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Stories by Mike Tontimonia

Opening day for Ohio deer hunters is Monday, but for some, especially those used to seeing several deer by noon, it may be slim pickings. Yes, the deer herd in some areas of Ohio has been noticeably affected by epizootic hemorrhagic disease, a cruel and quick deer killer born by tiny midges, which most typically […]

It’s gift buying time. Like, hate it, or anything in between, it is time for Santa to emerge and do the deed. I’ve assembled a few of my favorite pieces of gear, things that make outdoor pursuits more enjoyable, comfortable and successful. Binoculars are like good gloves. Hunting without binoculars is like bowling with a […]

I get an armload of questions about long distance big game hunts, namely hunting trips for elk, antelope and bear. Most questions concern the choice between outfitted and guided hunts. Just a few weeks back, I was part of a four-man group that hunted elk in south western Colorado. We used an outfitter based on […]

GUNNISON Colo. — Luck trumps skills every time and, yes, getting an eyeful of elk, a bull at that, and in reasonable shooting range, involves a basket full a good old- fashioned luck. A beauty There he was, a decent bull at about 200 yards, a slam dunk if ever there was one. I belly […]

GUNNISON, Colo. — A group of four friends are here to live a dream — to hunt Rocky Mountain elk, the most coveted of all lower 48 big game. But given that, there are more critters involved in this play than elk. Take the golden eagle that winged up from a nearby kill to create […]

Time flies, it really does. Pictures don’t. Pictures freeze time, age, and reality. Such is the case of the pencil image that I’ve used for decades. That one. Yes, that timeless image that leads this column, a snap shot turned classy by the hand of an artist, of a much younger me. I don’t know […]

For those who seek excitement, a sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction an adventure provides, climbing mountains is right up there. Not just climbing of course, but summiting — the actual ascent to the very top, the highest point, the summit. The question of “why climb at all” is paramount to those who prefer armchair […]

A pound of cotton socks weights the same as a pound of sharp knife. You need to pare down your duffle so what do you leave at home? It’s your choice. Do you value warm feet and do you see a need for a good skinning knife? Yes to both questions, so back to the […]

Pre-season target practice is a basic requirement for hunters. To depend on last year’s shooting performance is to ask for problems. Indeed, what it was does not predicate what it will be. Shooting Here’s what is known about shooting. Erratic scores, inaccurate groups, missed targets, and other shooting fu-paws are typically not caused by the […]

My sister says everything is on the Internet. It hurts to admit this, but she’s right. I hope she doesn’t read this. According to Mark Drury, a call maker, archery pro staffer and hunting show producer, time spent on the Internet prior to hunting season can be time well spent. That Drury proclamation was one […]

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About Mike

Mike Tontimonia has been writing weekly columns and magazine features about the outdoors for over 25 years, a career that continues to hold the same excitement for him as it did at the beginning. Mike is a retired educator, a licensed auctioneer, and marketing consultant. He lives in Ravenna, Ohio and enjoys spending time at his Carroll County cabin.
Mike has hunted and fished in several states and Canada from the Carolinas to Alaska and from Idaho to Delaware. His readers have often commented that the stories about his adventures are about as close to being there as possible. He is past president of the Outdoor Writers of Ohio and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Mike is also very involved in his community as a school board member and a Rotarian.